Celebrate Earth Day

More than 8,000 locals are expected at the 39th annual Cincinnati Earth Day celebration, one of the city’s top outdoor festivals and a tribute to all things green and eco-friendly. Performances include native flute music by Janice Tryten, contemporary Folk music by Wild Carrot and the Roots Band and Jamgrass music by the Rumpke Mountain Boys. Other attractions include live animal shows by the Cincinnati Zoo and Sunrock Farm, a recycled costume contest for kids and local environmental awards presented by Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory.

Earth Day Co-Chair Standish Fortin says that he expects the crowd to be diverse and include many who’ve never considered themselves environmentalists.

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“Obviously we’ll always have the people who support that type of living,” he says. “Separate from that, you have people like Walmart, who is sponsoring the costume contest. We’re starting to see that the corporations we already know are becoming green because it makes economic sense and it’s also the right thing to do.”

The event will include plenty of diversions for children. A petting zoo, rock climbing wall (fun for adults, too), a kayak safety pool, storytelling and an environmentalist puppet show are all part of the fun. The Cincinnati Zoo is bringing cheetahs as part of their educational exhibit, while Life Below the Waterline, a traveling freshwater aquarium, educates the public on the fish of the Ohio River.

“The whole consciousness of society is becoming more in tune with nature,” Fortin says. “It’s becoming a generational acceleration. My parents’ knowledge of the environment was miniscule compared to mine, and the next generation’s will make mine seem miniscule as well.”

Cincinnati’s Earth Day celebration is free and open to the public. Noon-7 p.m. April 18. Sawyer Point, downtown riverfront, www.cincinnatiearthday.com.